Jordan to lose technical director

Michael Gascoyne, the technical director of the Jordan Formula One team, will leave when his contract expires in July 2001, the team said yesterday.

Jordan did not say where Gascoyne was going, but media reports have suggested that he will take over as design head at Renault when they replace the Benetton team in 2002.

Eddie Jordan said that Gascoyne, 37, had informed him of his plans and pledged to honour his contract until July 2001. Gascoyne joined Jordan in July 1998 as chief designer after previous stints with McLaren, Sauber and Tyrrell.

After training as an aerodynamicist, he spent seven years working with the late Harvey Postlethwaite - five of them at Tyrrell - and has called him his Formula One mentor. Gascoyne became Jordan's technical director in January, replacing Gary Anderson who is now with Jaguar Racing, and designed last season's successful Jordan car.

The BAR Formula One team confirmed yesterday that they were suing Mika Salo's management company for money they claim was owed to them for allowing the Finnish driver to race for Ferrari last season.